fluid extract is beneficial in high color or scalding urine, difficult micturition, &c. The tincture has been found serviceable in gongonorrhea, strangury, gravel, and as a local application to painful hemorrhoids. Its principal employment is for its febrifuge and diuretic virtues. Pronounced superior to peppermint as a febrifuge. The fluid extract made into a warm infusion may be used freely. Incompatibles.Sulphate of iron, nitrate of silver, acetate of lead, &c. Fluid Extract.... PREPARATION. .Dose, 1 to 3 drams. Myrica Cerifera. Mild astringent and stimulant. In large doses it is liable to produce emesis. It may also possess expectorant properties, connected with its acridness. This agent is considerably employed by a class of physicians in the management of strumous complaints, jaundice, diarrhea, dysentery, and other diseases where an astringent stimulant is needed. Dr. Fahnestock speaks highly of its efficiency in dysentery. The extract proves very benefi cial as a gargle and injection, in chronic inflammation of the throat, leucorrhea, &c. Acrid stimulant, and astringent. In large doses, itproves an emetic, over-burdening the stomach with stimulus. The extract has been administered with benefit in diarrhea, dysentery, and diseases where astringent stimulants are indicated. It has also been recommended as a vermifuge, both as an internal and external application. Fluid Extract. PREPARATION. Nepeta Cataria. (Catnip.) .Dose, to 1 dram. Diaphoretic and carminative, anti-spasmodic, emmenagogue and diuretic. In warm infusion the extract is used in febrile diseases, as a diaphoretic, and to allay convulsive action and produce sleep; it is also given as a carminative and anti-spasmodic in the flatulent colic of children. As an emmenagogue or uterine tonic, it has proved decidedly beneficial in amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea, and has likewise been successfully employed in asthma, hysteria and flatulent colic of infants. The fluid extract of catnip and saffron in the form of a warm infusion is a very popular remedy in colds and exanthematous diseases, to which the young are subject. The fluid extract of catnip, valerian, scullcap, forms an excellent agent in nervous headache, restlessness and nervous irritability. This agent sometimes proves efficacious in restoring the menstrual flood after other remedies have failed. Fluid Extract.... PREPARATION. Dose, 2 to 4 drame. Npmphoa Odorata. (Lily, White.) Astringent, demulcent, anodyne, alterative, anti-scrofulous. It is a popular remedy in all bowel complaints, and employed as an astringent in gleet, fluor albus, etc. Very beneficial in scrofula, and, combined with wild cherry, in bronchial affections. A case of uterine cancer, which had obstinately resisted all medical treatment, is mentioned by Dr. King, as having been permanently cured by the free use of the root. Matson recommends it as a gargle in sore throat. There is scarcely any vegetable, says Bigelow, which affords more decided evidence of astringency than the root of this plant; formerly celebrated as an antaphrodisiac, and a remedy in morbid discharges. See Journal of Materia Medica, vol. 1. PREPARATION. Fluid Extract.. Dose, to 1 drám. Opium. The great variety of indications fulfilled by the use of opium, and its extensive applicability to the cure of disease, have incorporated it into almost every practice of medicine. It is in its primary action, excitant, speedily relieving pain; capable beyond any other narcotic of producing sleep; powerfully anti-spasmodic; possesses the power of allaying local and general irritation; suppresses morbid discharges; and in combination with small doses of emetic medicines, is preöminently a diaphoretic. Topically it is a direct stimulant and indirect sedative of the nervous, muscular, and vascular systems. A moderate dose, taken while in health, augments the volume and velocity of the pulse, increases the heat of the surface, gives energy to the mus cles, renders the mind more acute, and produces a general excitement of the whole system." Dr. Waring remarks as follows on the use of opium: "Some persons are peculiarly susceptible to the use of opium, and are unable to take even the smallest dose without its occasioning delirium, a high state of nervous irritability, vomiting, diarrhea, &c. Where this idiosyncrasy exists, opium should not be given, unless more than ordinary circumstances demand it. When, however, its exhibition is necessary in these subjects, it is sometimes tolerated, if given in the form of an enema; or, if given by mouth, a few grains of capsicum will be found to allay the vomiting, and the addition of camphor, or tartar emetic, will in a great measure obviate the irritability. As a general rule, however, opium should not be given in any form in these cases. Infants and young children bear the exhibition of opium badly. Numerous are the instances on record in which two or three drops of laudanum have produced fatal results ir young children; and opium in every form should be avoided, unless it is impera. tively called for, and should never be given without the greatest caution. It should be laid down as a rule, that when it is necessary to prescribe opiates for children, those preparations whose strength is regulated by a certain standard should be preferied to those whose strength is variable and uncertain. Thus, tinctura opii, tinctura camphoræ cum opio, and Dover's Powder, are preferable to syrup of poppies, the strength of which is very variable. Those persons who are unaccustomed to opium require a much smaller quantity of the drug, to produce a certain effect, than those who are habituated to its use. Combination with other drugs greatly modifies the action of opium. Ipecacuanha increases its action on the skin; mercurials obviate its constipating influence; and tartar emetic lessons the action which it would otherwise excite in the nervous system. When a large dose of opium has been administered, and the patient is still suffering intense pain, how long should we wait before it would be considered safe to repeat it? This question, put by Dr. Griffin, is answered by him, that half an hour is the limit within which crude opium will be found to manifest its effects; and that the dose may be safely repeated, if the pain or spasm be not relieved, however often it may be given. The liquid preparations of opium act rather sooner than the solid drug. When opium is given for the relief of pain. particularly of a periodical character, a third part of the dose which was required to relieve the paroxysm is required to prevent its recurrence. fact, a moderate dose given in the interval will sometimes prevent In the accession of the fit, when no quantity, however great, can control it, after it has once set in. When opium or opiates have been given for any length of time, or in large doses, a period of exhaustion and sinking almost invariably ensues from twelve to twenty-four hours after the drug has been discontinued. A great amount of exhaustion and sink ing has been observed to follow the omission of even a very reduced dose, particularly in children. A little nourishment, or some slight stimulant, is here necessary. An over-dose of opium will produce effects very similar to those of an under-dose. Where a restless night has resulted from an over-dose having been given, sound sleep may occur next night without any opium whatever. Again, if the doses of opium given with advantage during the existence of inflammation be continued when this has subsided, stupor, or troubled sleep, according to the degree of surplus opium given, will result. In order to procure sleep, opium should be given an hour or two before the usual hour of retiring to rest, in order to allow the stage of excitement to pass off previous to that time. When from irritability of the stomach, or some other cause, opium can not be administered by mouth, it may often be advan tag ously administered in the form of enema; a larger dose, a third or half larger, is required when it is exhibited in the latter mode. It may also prove of the highest service when applied externally in allaying pain, irritation, and inordinate action, not only of the skin, but of the subjacent tissues. As a diaphoretic, opium is best combined with ipecacuanha. Opium is either contra-indicated, or should be given with caution, in the following states: 1. In cerebral affections occurring in persons of a plethoric habit, and where congestion of the vessels of the brain is suspected. 2. In acute sthenic inflammation in plethoric subjects, previous to the employment of depletion. 3. In pulmonary affections, when the cough is dry and hard, and the expectoration is difficult and scanty. 4. In affections of mucous membranes of the air-passages, attended with copious secretion. In such conditions the narcotizing influence of opium, by diminishing the respiratory function, has often prove 1 fatal. 5. In morbid states of the body, where venous congestion is evident. Whilst the urine is scanty and high-colore i. Alkalies should, in such a case, be generally administered first; but if the symptoms be urgent, an i opium is imperatively called for, it should be given in combination with alkalies. 7. During pregnancy. Dr. Denman states that he is persuaded that the frequent use of opiates by pregnant women is prejudicial to the foetus. 8. In fevers and other morbid states, accompanied by contraction of the pupils. 6. Opium, Aqueous. On some constitutions, opium produces peculiar effects, widely different from its usual mode of operation; such as great sickness and vomiting, restlessness, headache, delirium, and even obstinate wakefulness. The secretions, all of them, with the exception of that from the skin, are either suspended or diminished after the administration of opium. These general ill effects of opium are owing to the presence of certain deleterious principles contained in it, and which, when extracted from the drug, do not detract from its specific and highly remedial qualities. This preparation is the pure aqueous extract of opium, with those principles separated from it which are productive of the injurious ef fects of its usual administration. The aqueous solution possesses all the anodyne, sedative, and antispasmodic effects of opium, and of the various preparations of this well known and useful medicine, and is superior to any before the public. It is the result of many years observation and study of one of the most eminent physicians in the country, and was used in a long and extensive practice. It is a very pleasant anodyne and anti-spasmodic, much used to allay cough in chronic catarrh, asthma, consumption, &c.; to relieve nausea and slight pains in the stomach and bowels; to check diarrhea; and in infantile cases to procure sleep. It may be used when the crude drug usually would be. It is of the strength of laudanum, and may be given in similar doses. Many physicians have long used an empirical aqueous solution, and differing only from the officinal solution, in mode of preparation. Repose is usually induced by the minimum dose, but in obstinate irritation, the dose can be repeated several times with safety. The advantages claimed for this preparation are, that constipation and unpleasant consequences following the administration of opium in its ordinary forms are wholly or nearly avoided. This preparation may be administered as an anodyne or to induce rest, when opium itself can not be prescribed with safety. Incompatibles. Ammonia, carbonates of potassa and soda, nitrate of silver, acetate of lead, salts of copper, iron and zinc, astringent infusions, &c. Poppy capsules, though similar in their effects to opium, are |